SOCIAL MEDIA GREATEST THREAT TO DEMOCRACY
Minister calls for online regulation
Agriculture Minister took the opportunity to reveal the Government will introduce a new scheme to support the importation of fodder to feed farm animals due to shortages caused by the recent drought.
Farm safety was also top of the agenda and MEP Mairead Mcguinness launched the Embrace Farm Drive to Remember and opened the Farm Safety Live stand. FACEBOOK and other social media networks could soon face regulation, a Government minister revealed yesterday.
The move comes after Josepha Madigan said online sites are “among the greatest threats to western democracy”.
The Culture Minister made the remarks at the opening of the 28th Parnell Summer School at Avondale House, Co Wicklow.
She added she will be asking other Government officials to prioritise the introduction of social media regulation before the end of the year.
Ms Madigan said: “Ireland can be proud of the fact the centre ground in our democracy continues to hold up so well.
“Extremist parties that appear to be thriving on other parts of the globe are thankfully and rightfully relegated to the fringes of the Irish political landscape.
“However, another very real threat to western democracy comes in an altogether new form.
“Without proper regulation, social media networks have the potential to be used by foreign bodies to affect the outcomes of our national elections and referendums. There is a growing body of evidence that the Brexit vote and the last US presidential election were significantly influenced by foreign bodies through spend on social media.
“The integrity of our democracy should not be dependent on the decisions of these companies.
“I support the recent call by the Standards In Public
Offices Commission to establish an electoral commission to deal with digital political campaigns financed from outside the State.
“I also commend the work the Oireachtas Committee Communications.
“Its chair Deputy Hildegarde Naughton is right to say the time for self-regulation by social media platforms is over.
“I will be asking my colleagues at Cabinet to prioritise the introduction of legislation and regulation in this area at both a national and EU level before the end of the year.” of on